Immersive waxing / it should be more popular
#1301
For folks that run waxed chains on their mountain bikes or gravel bikes, what’s your maintenance like for dry riding? Say you want to clean a few mud splatters or dust off the bike but aren’t due for a rewax, do you avoid getting the chain wet? Do you dry wipe the chain or air compressor the dust out of the cassette or chain?
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#1302
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For folks that run waxed chains on their mountain bikes or gravel bikes, what’s your maintenance like for dry riding? Say you want to clean a few mud splatters or dust off the bike but aren’t due for a rewax, do you avoid getting the chain wet? Do you dry wipe the chain or air compressor the dust out of the cassette or chain?
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#1303
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For folks that run waxed chains on their mountain bikes or gravel bikes, what’s your maintenance like for dry riding? Say you want to clean a few mud splatters or dust off the bike but aren’t due for a rewax, do you avoid getting the chain wet? Do you dry wipe the chain or air compressor the dust out of the cassette or chain?
For dry riding I don't do anything different than plain road riding. The chain is essentially clean already. Just dip, swish, & go.
#1304
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OK, I've been reluctant* to say this but here goes: I'm not convinced the squeaking of a waxed chain necessarily means the important lubrication isn't still happening. I've had cases after a recent waxing when I got wet, not downpour soaked but just surface wet, and within 2-3 days started hearing squeaking. I saw light surface rust on the plates.. I'm thinking that accounts for the noise.. hard to imagine how the slight wetting sequence could have affected the lubricant along the pin rotation deep inside...
Which means a mileage-based rewaxing would be a better practice to achieve a longer chain life.
* "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" - Walt Whitman yeah and I can't stick to my diet either...
Which means a mileage-based rewaxing would be a better practice to achieve a longer chain life.
* "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" - Walt Whitman yeah and I can't stick to my diet either...
Last edited by eduskator; 04-01-24 at 10:47 AM.
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#1305
Just Pedaling
Mine will start making noise after like 100kms but between 100-300kms it will sound the same. After 300km, it gets a lot noisier. I agree with you; an increased noise doesn't mean that it's less lubricated. To me, it's simply an indication that I've passed the 300km mark and that it needs to re-bath. I'm not doing this to increase lifespan. Having a silent drivetrain is a preference of mine.
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I do it for the increased life span but especially the quieter drive train. Now the neighbor ladies aren't just bringing me their used candles, but they have a tendency to show up when I'm out in the shed in my lycra riding shorts working up a sweat on the trainer. Is it coincidence? I think not. They can hear my noisy drive train and it alerts them that I'm in the shed and not out on the road. I need to wax more often or close the door on my sweat box
Or may-be they wait for any opportunity to see a man working out in lycra?
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1) Fuel, then;
2) Degreaser, then;
3) Denatured Alcohol, then;
4) Rince with hot water and let it dry.
#1309
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Some folks - like the DYIer Oz Cycle I'm following on YouTube, suggest the following to sterilize / strip-off the chain completely from any lube or grease before its initial wax bath. It may be excessive, but whatever!
1) Fuel, then;
2) Degreaser, then;
3) Denatured Alcohol, then;
4) Rince with hot water and let it dry.
1) Fuel, then;
2) Degreaser, then;
3) Denatured Alcohol, then;
4) Rince with hot water and let it dry.
#1310
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To me, all products sold by bike companies is bullcrap. Their ''secret blend'' wax being one of them. It's the industry's reaction to the gen pop realizing that 1$ store candles can effectively lubricate a bike chain for an entire season. They need to continue making profit, that's for sure.
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The question is, which one is more effective?
To me, all products sold by bike companies is bullcrap. Their ''secret blend'' wax being one of them. It's the industry's reaction to the gen pop realizing that 1$ store candles can effectively lubricate a bike chain for an entire season. They need to continue making profit, that's for sure.
To me, all products sold by bike companies is bullcrap. Their ''secret blend'' wax being one of them. It's the industry's reaction to the gen pop realizing that 1$ store candles can effectively lubricate a bike chain for an entire season. They need to continue making profit, that's for sure.
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#1312
I just stripped 5 chains with a half bottle and they went right into the wax and everything was perfect. I like supporting companies that support cycling and if you want to believe that they are trying to rip people off just for trying to make a living and get paid for the research they do that's your prerogative.
#1313
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Food grade paraffin wax = 5$ (or 1$ candles if you're cheaper)
Bag of Silca super-duper-secret-blend wax pellets = 40$
Will invest my 35-39$ in local coffee shops when riding.
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C'mon.....does this really require an in depth discussion? I suppose this is BF where people pick apart the most inconsequential bs and discuss ad-nauseum. It's a company that is enthusiastic enough to do research and development for cycling products that they sell to cyclists. If you watch the videos that Josh and team produce you can tell how much they are into it. To me that's enough to use the term "support cycling". I have to laugh at anyone that thinks people are making huge profits in small company like this aren't in it for the love of cycling.
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Zero Friction Cycling Lubricant Testing
But please, keep using your crappy candle wax, not supporting the cycling industry, and spending more over time. I don't mind at all.
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If only there was someone out there looking into this as far as quality of lubricant and cost over mileage.....
Zero Friction Cycling Lubricant Testing
But please, keep using your crappy candle wax, not supporting the cycling industry, and spending more over time. I don't mind at all.
Zero Friction Cycling Lubricant Testing
But please, keep using your crappy candle wax, not supporting the cycling industry, and spending more over time. I don't mind at all.
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Haha. No thanks but I appreciate the offer. Funny to see how the candle wax actually seems to have a higher cost to run over 10,000km though.
BTW...there's a waxing FAQ where they discuss the whole OZ thing and DIY waxing.
BTW...there's a waxing FAQ where they discuss the whole OZ thing and DIY waxing.
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Some folks - like the DYIer Oz Cycle I'm following on YouTube, suggest the following to sterilize / strip-off the chain completely from any lube or grease before its initial wax bath. It may be excessive, but whatever!
1) Fuel, then;
2) Degreaser, then;
3) Denatured Alcohol, then;
4) Rince with hot water and let it dry.
1) Fuel, then;
2) Degreaser, then;
3) Denatured Alcohol, then;
4) Rince with hot water and let it dry.
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Platypus gravelus.
Platypus gravelus.
#1319
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I do feel it's necessary because I trust Oz Cycle, but I don't believe I'm going to get 5000 more kms out of a single chain because of this. Honestly, I would be OK with just dipping it in fuel overnight and shaking it good, but I like doing this kind of stuff so I don't mind the extra steps.
#1320
If only there was someone out there looking into this as far as quality of lubricant and cost over mileage.....
Zero Friction Cycling Lubricant Testing
But please, keep using your crappy candle wax, not supporting the cycling industry, and spending more over time. I don't mind at all.
Zero Friction Cycling Lubricant Testing
But please, keep using your crappy candle wax, not supporting the cycling industry, and spending more over time. I don't mind at all.
Not everyone thinks that cycling needs to get more and more expensive until only the wealthy are welcome - enthusiastic wealthy or not
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#1323
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Anyone who uses oil deserves all the premature replacement costs they bring upon themselves. If anything, the poor should be the ones who are waxing. Who cares what the rich enthusiasts do?
1 pound of wax = ~408ml (because of density)
Assuming each waxing session uses approximately 5ml of wax 408/5=81 uses per pound. Even at the outrageously high cost of $30 per pound (Molten Speed Wax) divided by 81 waxings the cost comes to less than 37¢ per complete chain flush/cleaning/lubing session. But here's the kicker! A 3 pound purchase of MSW at $59 comes to 24¢ per session.
A bottle of Rock-N-Roll Gold at $8 contains 117ml of oil. At 20 drops to a milliliter x 112 drops per chain equals 5.6ml of oil per lube session. 117ml per bottle divided by 5.6ml equals 20.89 lubes per $8 bottle. $8/20.9=38¢ per lube. And that doesn't include the cost of cleaner/degreaser or the time involved in a bunch of other necessary every single time.
In every single dimension from a raw materials and time cost wax is equal or cheaper than oil. The poor non-enthusiast should wax...And to think, I didn't even figure the cost of chains and cassettes that will last the poor way way longer than any that are oiled.
Last edited by base2; 04-02-24 at 07:18 PM.
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If you really read through the links I posted you would see that their testing came away with two main points when it comes to candle wax versus the Silca, Mspeedwax, or other blends.
The candle wax is inferior as a lubricant to the "luxury" wax blends. It is also more expensive over 10,000 km at least compared to the Silca Hot Melt and a couple other blends.
Not sure how a 40 dollar bag of wax that will probably last me for the year if not longer is for rich people, but thanks for the laugh.
Last edited by KJ43; 04-02-24 at 06:38 PM.
#1325
If candle wax is better and cheaper than oil, What's your point? I think you've missed the point. Candles are basically free and yield longer component lifespans than oil if properly attended to..
Anyone who uses oil deserves all the premature replacement costs they bring upon themselves. If anything, the poor should be the ones who are waxing. Who cares what the rich enthusiasts do?
1 pound of wax = ~408ml (because of density)
Assuming each waxing session uses approximately 5ml of wax 408/5=81 uses per pound. Even at the outrageously high cost of $30 per pound (Molten Speed Wax) divided by 81 waxings the cost comes to less than 37¢ per complete chain flush/cleaning/lubing session. But here's the kicker! A 3 pound purchase of MSW at $59 comes to 24¢ per session.
A bottle of Rock-N-Roll Gold at $8 contains 117ml of oil. At 20 drops to a milliliter x 112 drops per chain equals 5.6ml of oil per lube session. 117ml per bottle divided by 5.6ml equals 20.89 lubes per $8 bottle. $8/20.9=38¢ per lube. And that doesn't include the cost of cleaner/degreaser or the time involved in a bunch of other necessary every single time.
In every single dimension from a raw materials and time cost wax is equal or cheaper than oil. The poor non-enthusiast should wax...And to think, I didn't even figure the cost of chains and cassettes that will last the poor way way longer than any that are oiled.
Anyone who uses oil deserves all the premature replacement costs they bring upon themselves. If anything, the poor should be the ones who are waxing. Who cares what the rich enthusiasts do?
1 pound of wax = ~408ml (because of density)
Assuming each waxing session uses approximately 5ml of wax 408/5=81 uses per pound. Even at the outrageously high cost of $30 per pound (Molten Speed Wax) divided by 81 waxings the cost comes to less than 37¢ per complete chain flush/cleaning/lubing session. But here's the kicker! A 3 pound purchase of MSW at $59 comes to 24¢ per session.
A bottle of Rock-N-Roll Gold at $8 contains 117ml of oil. At 20 drops to a milliliter x 112 drops per chain equals 5.6ml of oil per lube session. 117ml per bottle divided by 5.6ml equals 20.89 lubes per $8 bottle. $8/20.9=38¢ per lube. And that doesn't include the cost of cleaner/degreaser or the time involved in a bunch of other necessary every single time.
In every single dimension from a raw materials and time cost wax is equal or cheaper than oil. The poor non-enthusiast should wax...And to think, I didn't even figure the cost of chains and cassettes that will last the poor way way longer than any that are oiled.